Photo_2.jpg

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies seized drugs, machine guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition during a months-long drug investigation into 42-year-old Lonnie Leroy Sahm.

On Monday, June 14, deputies assigned to the MCSO’s Dangerous Drug Team (DDT) were preparing to serve search warrants at two locations, including a home where Sahm lived, near NE 192nd Avenue & NE Halsey Street in Gresham. Prior to serving the search warrants, Sahm left the residence. DDT followed Sahm to a convenience store near SE 122nd Ave. & SE Powell Blvd. Deputies arrested Sahm at the convenience store without incident around 12:45 a.m.

While in custody, deputies observed Sahm trying to discard drugs by emptying plastic packages from his pockets. Sahm later admitted the small bags contained blue-colored “M30” fentanyl pills. The pills were packaged and ready for sale.

With Sahm in custody, deputies returned to the home. Around 1:30 a.m., the East Metro Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), served search warrants at the residence and an associated storage unit.

In the house, garage and storage unit, deputies found more than 1000 grams of methamphetamine, drug packaging material, over $500 in cash, more than 500 pills of Fentanyl and 44 firearms, including two machine guns. The machine guns, a Browning M19 and a U.S. Government 1919, both military-grade, were found in a hidden compartment. The Browning M19 was fully operational. In addition to the firearms, deputies located more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition, including high capacity magazines, drums and belts.The seized drugs are estimated to have a street value of $20,000.

Sahm, a convicted felon, acknowledged he is not allowed to possess firearms and self-admitted to deputies he is involved in a gang.

Sahm was arraigned Tuesday, June 15, in Multnomah County Circuit Court on charges of:

• 10 counts of felon in possession of a firearm
• 1 count of unlawful possession of a machine gun
• 1 count of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine

More charges will likely be filed and this arrest may lead to others.

“We are seeing an epidemic of guns and drugs on the streets, including residential neighborhoods, of Multnomah County that we have not seen in recent memory,” DDT Sgt. Matt Ferguson said. “This arrest sends a message to those committing these kinds of crimes, that we take these investigations seriously. This is part of our overarching response to gun violence in the community.”

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge the agencies below for their assistance in the investigation:

• Gresham Police Department
• Multnomah County's Department of Community Justice Parole & Probation
• Multnomah County District Attorney’s Strategic Prosecution and Services Unit
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

“This arrest and seizure of firearms and illegal drugs is the direct result of exceptional work by the Special Investigations Unit and our law enforcement partners. MCSO is committed to the safety of our community and will use all available resources to reduce gun violence in the jurisdictions where we provide service,” said Sheriff Mike Reese.

Attached are a series of photos:

• Photo 1: Guns, ammunition and drugs seized following arrest
• Photo 2: Rifles laid out on top of evidence boxes
• Photo 3: Close up of three guns seized following arrest
• Photo 4: Close up of military-grade automatic rifle
• Photo 5: Fentanyl, meth, heroin, and cash

News outlets, click this link to view sound bite from Sheriff Reese and video of the weapons and drugs.

The investigation is ongoing, and no further comment can be made at this time.

###